Watch



April 25,1939. H, C, RUGER `2,155,842

WATCH Filed July 1, 1937 Q u in 'y /u 4Z HAPPY O @065e INVEN-ron.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES WATCH Harry C. Ruger, New York, N. Y., assigner of onehalf to Joseph Lipschutz, New York, N. Y.

Application July 1, 1937, Serial N0. 151,348

`1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in watches and similar articles and kmore particularly it pertains to a new and improved crystal construction for such devices.

5 In the use of watches, especially those which are exposed to full view when in use, and particularly those designed for feminine evening wear, it has become desirable to have the watch, match or esthetically blend in with the color scheme of l the custume or ensemble worn upon a particular occasion.

Under ordinary circumstances, such practice requires a number of variously decorated watches and except in the rarest cases, renders such prac- `l tice prohibitive.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a watch so constructed that its color effect and Within certain limitations, its general design may be varied, thereby to provide a watch which is capable vof ornamental variation to meet the tastes of the wearer.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction of Watch case or support and crystal therefor.

A further feature of the invention resides in a novel form of Watch crystal together with means for readily and easily removably attaching it to the watch movement or support.

Other features ofthe invention relate to certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention in its preferred form and from the following description of the constructions therein shown.

4Q In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrist watch type illustrating one practical embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on a 45 slightly enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, f

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail horizontal 50 sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a distended perspective view, and;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of a modied form of dome crystal.

55 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,

the reference numeral IU designates a conventional showing of a watch movement which, in 'accordance with the present invention, may take any kdesired type or form.

The movement is carried upon a member I2 5 which will be hereinafter referred to as the movement supporting platform. This movement supporting platform has an upstanding flange I4 spaced from its marginal edge which flange provides a recess I6 to receive and retain the movel0 ment III. The flange may be cut out or notched as at I8 to accommodate the stem 20 of the movement as best illustrated in Figure 2.

Defining the outer edge of the movement supporting platform I2 there is a relatively lower l5 'flange 22 and this flange 22, serves as means to position a crystal 24 upon the movement supporting platform in such a manner that the crystal will enclose a movement mounted in the recess The crystal 24 is of dome-like construction and may take any desired shape or form. To accommodate the stem 20 of the movement, the side wall of the crystal 24 may be notched or cut out as at 26, see Figure 2.

Means is provided which will securely hold the crystal 24 in position to cooperate with the movement supporting platform to enclose completely the movement, and yet will permit of ready and easy removal of the crystal for replacement of one 30 of another type as will be hereinafter described.

The crystal securing means herein illustrated consists of two spring actuated clips 30, pivotally mounted upon the movement supporting platform at oppositely disposed points. 'I'hese clips 35 30 are adapted to swing about a pivotal point to a position Where they overlie a portion of, and engage the crystal to hold it in position upon the movement supporting platform, the holding engagement of the clips with the crystal being 40 `maintained by resilient means in a manner to be hereinafter described.

While there are but two holding clips 30 Shown in the present embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that any number of such clips as may be deemed necessary, may be employed, and since these clips and their associated parts are'all of the same construction, a description of the construction and operation of but one is considered sufficient.

By reference to Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, it will be observed that the upstanding flange is formed at its base with an enlarged portion or lug 32 which is undercut to form a seat 34. That portion'of the movement supporting platform which il lies between the flanges i4, 22 is cut away as at 34 and the side edges of the cut away portion are each formed with a seat 36. Spaced lugs 38 project from the outer edge of the movement supporting base and these lugs are pierced as at 40 for the reception of a shaft or pintle 42 which forms the pivotal mounting of the clip 30.

The reference numeral 44 designates a resilient member which is of rectangular form and from its longitudinal side edges lugs 46 project. The lugs 46 are preferably closer to the end 48 than they are to the end 50, and are adapted to be received in the seats 36, when the resilient member 44 is placed in operative position.

In the operative position of the parts, the end 48 of the resilient member 44 is adapted to be received in the seat 34 beneath the lug or projection 32, with its lateral projections lying in the seats 36, the opposite end 50 of the resilient member being positioned between the lugs 38 with the clasp 30 pivotally mounted between the lugs 38 upon the pintle 42.

It will be noted that the pivoted end of the clip 3) is provided with shoulders 52 and a. straight edge 54, and this shoulder and straight edge operate to increase the tension of the resilient member when the clip is rocked about its pivotal point.

The resilient member is placed under sufficient tension to retain the clip in holding engagement with the crystal, when the parts are assembled and this tension is obtained in the following manner.

When the resilient member 44 is positioned with its end 48 in the seat 34 and its lateral projections 4E in the seats 36, it necessarily assumes an inclined position in which its outer end will be positioned in a plane above the inner end 48. The parts are so designed that in mounting the clip between the lugs 38, it will be necessary to depress the outer end of the resilient member in order to bring the pintle opening 60 in the clip in alinement with the piercings 40 in the lugs 38. This depressing of the outer end of the resilient member places the resilient member under tension with the projections 46 acting as the fulcrum of said resilient member and it is to be understood that the construction and proportions of the several parts will be such that the tension thus produced will be sufficient to maintain the clip in holding engagement with the crystal. It is also tc be understood that the tension above discussed will not be suiiicient to prevent ready and easy manual movement of the clip to its crystal releasing position, but will be suiicient to retain the clip in its crystal releasing position after it has been moved thereto.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modified form of dome crystal and in this form of the invention the dome crystal comprises a main body portion i which is preferably formed of metal. In the present illustration this main body portion is of circular form, although it may take other forms as desired. The main body portion is notched as at IUI to receive the stem 20 of the watch movement, and upon its upper edge it is provided with a bezel seat |02 for the reception of the crystal proper, which is designated |03.

It is to be understood that the construction of the modified form of the dome crystal will be such that the retaining clips 30 will engage the same, as for example, at |04, to retain theldome like crystal in position upon the movementsupporting platform in the same manner as in the heretofore described form of the invention wherein the dome crystal is formed completely of transparent material.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a watch or similar device in which the crystals may be removed or interchanged at will.

By this construction, crystals of different colors and shades may be provided and selected for use with costumes of different colors and shades, making it necessary only to have a variety of colored crystals with which the watch may be transformed to bring it into harmony with a chosen costume.

While the invention has been herein described in its preferred form, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specic construction illustrated and that it may be practiced in other forms Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

In a device of the character described, a watch movement supporting platform, a flange dening the marginal edge of the watch movement supporting platform, diametrically oppositely disposed pairs of lugs projecting from said flange, a bodily removable dome-like crystal mounted upon said movement supporting platform within the confines of the marginal flange thereof, and means for retaining said crystal in place upon the movement supporting platform, said means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed pivoted levers, pivotally mounted one in each pair of lugs to move into and out of engagement with the crystal on the platform, and means for retaining the pivoted levers in engagement with the crystal, said means comprising a flat leaf spring removably carried by the watch movement supporting platform, each of said springs having one of its ends underlying its respective pivoted lever and its other end in engagement with the movement supporting platform and exerting resilient pressure on said lever.

HARRY C. RUGER. 

